Medical terms - Letter R (page 6) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Regenerate

To reproduce or renew something lost. For example, after an injury, the liver has the capacity to regenerate
Regimen

With the accent on the first syllable (reg as in Reggie Jackson), a regimen is a plan, a regulated course such as a diet, exercise or treatment, designed to give a good result. A low-salt diet is a regimen
Region, regulatory

A region of a chromosome that controls gene expression. In terms of DNA, it is a regulatory sequence
Regional enteritis

Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine primarily in the small and large intestines but which can occur anywhere in the digestive system between the mouth and the anus. Named after Burrill Crohn…
Regional lymphadenitis

Cat scratch disease, a mild flu-like infection, with swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenitis) and mild fever of short duration, due to cat scratches, especially from kittens. There is usually a little bump (a papule) which…
Registry

Although a registry was originally the place (like Registry House in Edinburgh) where information was collected (in registers), the word registry has also come to mean the collection itself. A registry is usually…
Registry, tumor

See: Tumor registry. And, for more information, see: Cancer registry
Regress

To return or go back, particularly to return to a pattern of behavior or level of skill characteristic of a younger age. For example, if a three-year-old child begins to regress by losing the ability to control his…
Regulatory gene

A gene that regulates the expression of other genes. A regulatory gene is a nosy gene whose prime preoccupation is to horn in on other genes and control the rate at which they make products
Regulatory region

A region of a chromosome that controls gene expression. In terms of DNA, it is a regulatory sequence
Regulatory sequence

A sequence of bases in DNA that controls gene expression
Regulatory T cell

A T cell (T lymphocyte) that regulates the activity of another T cell, usually by suppressing its activity. This process can be beneficial or harmful. There are several different types of regulatory T cells
Regurgitation

A backward flowing. For example, of food. Or the sloshing of blood back into the heart (or between chambers of the heart) when a heart valve is incompetent and does not close effectively
Regurgitation, aortic

See: Aortic regurgitation
Regurgitation, mitral

See: Mitral regurgitation
Rehab

Short for Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation

The process of restoration of skills by a person who has had an illness or injury so as to regain maximum self-sufficiency and function in a normal or as near normal manner as possible. For example, rehabilitation after…
Rehydrate

To restore lost water to the body tissues and fluids. Prompt rehydration is imperative whenever dehydration occurs, from diarrhea, exposure, lack of drinking water, or medication use. Rehydration can be by oral or IV…
Rehydration

The process of restoring lost water to the body tissues and fluids. Prompt rehydration is imperative whenever dehydration occurs, from diarrhea, exposure, lack of drinking water, or medication use. Rehydration can be by…
Reiki

('RAY-kee') A Japanese word representing Universal Life Energy. Reiki is based on the belief that when spiritual energy is channeled through a reiki practitioner, the patient's spirit is healed, which in turn heals the…
Reimplantation

Synonymous with replantation. See: Replantation
Reinnervate

To restore nerve function after it has been lost. See: Reinnervation
Reinnervation

Restoration of nerve function after it has been lost. Reinnervation may occur spontaneously or be achieved by nerve grafting. The EMG (electromyogram) may show evidence of denervation with subsequent reinnervation in…
Reinstein syndrome

A heritable syndrome characterized by eye disease (specifically, macular degeneration and inverse retinitis pigmentosa), progressive hearing loss, and hypogonadism. Inverse retinitis pigmentosa differs from the common…
Reiter syndrome

A chronic form of inflammatory arthritis wherein the following three conditions are combined: (1) arthritis; (2) inflammation of the eyes (conjunctivitis); and (3) inflammation of the genital, urinary or…
Rejection

In transplantation biology, the refusal by the body to accept transplanted cells, tissues or organs. For example, a kidney transplanted may be rejected
Relapse

The return of signs and symptoms of a disease after a patient has enjoyed a remission. For example, after treatment a patient with cancer of the colon went into remission with no sign or symptom of the tumor, remained…
Relapsing fever

An acute infection with recurrent episodes of fever caused by spirochetes of the genus Borrelia which are borne by ticks or lice. The relapsing nature of the fever is associated with the presence of antigenic variants…
Relaxant

Something that relaxes, relieves, reduces tension. For example, a muscle relaxant is often administered during abdominal surgery to relax the diaphragm and keep it from moving during the surgery.
Relaxin

A hormone produced during pregnancy that facilitates the birth process by causing a softening and lengthening of the cervix and the pubic symphysis (the place where the pubic bones come together). Relaxin also inhibits…
Release, carpal tunnel

A surgical procedure to relieve pressure exerted on the median nerve within the carpal tunnel (the carpal tunnel syndrome). The median nerve is pinched in the wrist as it passes through the carpal tunnel. The buildup of…
Rem

In radiation, Roentgen equivalent for man, a roentgen (an international unit of X- or gamma-radiation) adjusted for the atomic makeup of the human body. In ophthalmology, rapid eye movement
REM sleep

Sleep: REM sleep is the portion of sleep when there are rapid eye movements (REMs). Dreams occur during REM sleep. We typically have 3 to 5 periods of REM sleep per night. They occur at intervals of 1-2 hours and are…
Remedy

Something that consistently helps treat or cure a disease. From the Latin 'remedium' meaning that which heals again (and again). A remedy for a wound is also called a vulnerary.
Remission

Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer or other disease. When this happens, the disease is said to be 'in remission.' A remission can be temporary or permanent
Remission induction chemotherapy

See Induction therapy
Remodeling, chromatin

See: Chromatin remodeling
Remodelling, chromatin

See: Chromatin remodeling
Remote telesurgery

Surgical procedures carried out at a great distance thanks to advances in robotic and computer technology and their applications to surgery. The first demonstration of trans-Atlantic telesurgery was reported in 2001…
Renal

Having to do with the kidney. From the Latin renes (the kidneys), which gave the French les reins which mean both the kidneys and the lower back
Renal aneurysm

An aneurysm involving the kidney
Renal artery stenosis

Renal artery stenosis: Narrowing of the major artery that supplies blood to the kidney. Renal artery stenosis can lead to seriously elevated blood pressure. Common causes of renal artery stenosis include atherosclerosis…
Renal calculi

Kidney stones. A common cause of blood in the urine and pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin. Occurs in 1 in 20 people at some time in their life. Development of the stones is related to decreased urine volume or…
Renal cancer

Malignancy of the kidney, the organ that is primarily responsible for the removal of metabolic waste products from the body. The types of kidney cancer in adults and children are different and distinct: > >Adults --…
Renal capsule

The fibrous connective tissue that surrounds each kidney
Renal cell cancer

Cancer that develops in the lining of the renal tubules, which filter the blood and produce urine. Also called renal cell carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma

Cancer that develops in the lining of the renal tubules, which filter the blood and produce the urine. Also called renal cell cancer
Renal Fanconi syndrome

Failure of the tubules in the kidney to reabsorb small molecules, causing increased urinary loss of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, bicarbonate), minerals, glucose, amino acids, and water. These losses results in…
Renal infection in children

See: Urinary tract infection in children
Renal osteodystrophy

Renal osteodystrophy: A combination of bone disorders usually caused by chronic kidney failure (renal disease). Can also occur because of abnormal kidney functioning at birth (congenital). When the kidneys have failed…